Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital Offers Ultrasound-Guided Breast Biopsy

Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital is pleased to offer ultrasound-guided breast biopsy to patients on the Eastern Shore.

Ultrasound-guided breast biopsy is a quick, non-surgical office procedure for obtaining tissue samples from suspicious breast abnormalities.

A suspicious area in the breast may be found by mammogram or may be large enough to be felt upon examination.  In order to determine if the mass is benign or malignant, a sample of the mass must be obtained.  Ultrasound-guided breast biopsy uses a hollow needle to obtain a tissue sample.

 This method is a safe, effective and accurate way to diagnose breast problems, and in some instances is preferred over surgical biopsy. 

 “The procedure is less invasive than surgical biopsy, leaves little or no scarring and can be peRiverside Foundationormed in about an hour”, explained Dr. William Marshall, Medical Director of Radiology at Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital.   “By offering this advanced procedure, we eliminate the need for Eastern Shore residents to travel to multiple centers to receive their diagnosis.  We have the capabilities right here, close to home.”

 In ultrasound-guided biopsy, a radiologist will first numb the skin and the affected area of the breast with a local anesthetic.  Using radiation-free sound waves, the ultrasound device produces a real-time image of the mass inside the breast.  The image allows the radiologist to guide the needle to the exact spot of the mass. 

 The collected tissue sample will then be reviewed under a microscope by a pathologist to determine if the suspicious area is malignant or benign.  Because most breast masses are benign, this low-impact biopsy method is often the last procedure that is needed for a suspicious mass, and patients can avoid more invasive surgery.  Aftereffects of the biopsy are minor and might include slight bruising or bleeding;  most patients can resume normal activities in 24 hours.

 “This advanced diagnostic technology lets us quickly and accurately diagnose conditions and diseases.  The sooner a diagnosis is made, the sooner treatment can begin,” stated Dr. Marshall.